Due to the versatility of 2-O-benzyl-1-O-hexadecyl-sn-glycerol (7) as building block for various alkyl ether lipids and alkyl ether lyso-lipids, 7 was prepared from D-mannit following two different strategies. The final product 7 was obtained either via the intermediate 1,2-O-isopropylidene-sn-glycerol (1) or via 3,4-O-isopropylidene-D-mannit (8) in an overall yield of 6% or 11%, respectively.